North Carolina shoppers favor Cyber Monday over Black Friday, High Point University poll finds

A new poll from High Point University reveals that more people are planning to take advantage of Cyber Monday deals than Black Friday discounts.

Not long ago, shopping centers were packed with people eager to score Black Friday deals, but that’s changing. The latest survey shows that more shoppers prefer online shopping over in-store experiences.

What was once a chaotic day of deal-hunting crowds is slowly fading away.

“I like to go to the store, but not on Black Friday. I prefer going the next day,” said Claude Moutome.

“We find it too much hassle to leave the house and deal with the crazy crowds,” added Kinchit Shah.

Local shoppers are reflecting a statewide shift. According to the High Point University poll, 36% of North Carolinians plan to shop on Black Friday, while 46% are opting to wait for Cyber Monday.

“I like the convenience, more options, and the prices are generally better too,” explained Claire Moutome.

This trend toward online shopping extends beyond just Black Friday and Cyber Monday. When asked where they do most of their holiday shopping, 32% of North Carolinians said online, compared to just 16% who prefer brick-and-mortar stores.

However, some, like Sunny Tan, still enjoy shopping in person for at least part of their holiday purchases. “I like to feel what I’m buying and complete the transaction right away,” Tan said.

Data from Statista shows spending between now and Cyber Monday has increased every year since 2020, up 15% from last year.

Despite rising costs due to inflation and the pandemic, shoppers are still willing to spend big for the holidays.

As for timing, most people say they plan to shop at roughly the same time as they have in previous years.